Sliver Pizzeria

((This update is with respect to Guillermo’s (Sliver Owner) response to the review. I changed it to one star primarily due to his argument that Sliver’s founders – former Cheese Board members– «took elements [they] appreciated while changing things to make Sliver [their] own.» And how this technique, «is pretty common in the business world, and all the points [I] mentioned are fairly common across different restaurants.» Well, Guillermo: if everybody else jumped off of a bridge, would you? I mean come on, satire aside, your argument is ridiculous. I’m sure you’re a great dude, but your argument has no validity.
While I appreciate you taking the time to explain what’s up… look, you said it, you «took.» So kudos on adding a TV and bar. But you took something, and simply changed the name. You didn’t borrow an idea, you’re doing the exact same thing (I won’t even bother getting into a philosophical debate over privatizing elements of a collective). It’s shady, man. You guys opened the same business right down the road. Who does that?
Lastly, the argument that everyone else does it («all the points [I] mentioned are fairly common across different restaurants,» is a terrible argument. From a business perspective, i’m sure if Cheese Board pushed, legality would be an issue. But from a philosophical standpoint, it sucks.
So justify it however you must. But the fact is your establishment is not – in any way – original (even proximity for Christ’s sake haha), however you want to describe it.

I like Sliver. I go here when Cheese Board is closed or when I don’t feel like going that far (I live closer to Sliver). Somehow it is not as good as Cheese Board – I think it’s the crust, which is often under-​baked and chewy. I particularly like their pizzas with corn and that there is more seating than Cheese Board. I seriously go here ~1x/​week. It’s solid CA style pizza.

Although I love Sliver; the quickness, the atmosphere, the location, the friendly workers, and the overall concept… yesterday’s experience was only mediocre. I tried calling ahead of time (twice), but the calls went straight to voicemail. When I got to the pizzeria, the line was short and quick (it was around 3:30pm on a Monday). The cashier at the bar was friendly and I got my pizza within less than 5 minutes; which was great… but the pizza was really stiff and the crusts were hard to chew. Perhaps they rushed my order in case I was in a hurry since I ordered it to go, but it seemed like the pizza was pre-​made and reheated (most likely). I dont mind that, but hopefully next time the pizza will be better.

I usually go here when I’m hungry and pressed for time — even if the line looks really long, it moves by really quickly. I’ve never had to wait more than 5 minutes in line, and my order has always come out in ~3 minutes or less. The pizza itself is always really flavorful, but I have to admit that though the pizza changes daily, it all kinda tastes the same after a while. I think it’s the garlic olive oil/​herbs. Also, the butterscotch root beer is really good.

Cheeseboard will always be #1 in my heart, but Sliver, you make it convenient and tempting with your central downtown Berkeley location and alcoholic beverage offerings.
Sliver’s been open for years now but I didn’t actually visit and try their food until late 2015. For the longest time, I never gave Sliver a chance because I felt very loyal to Cheeseboard. It took a couple of friends and I wanting good pizza on a Sunday (aka Cheeseboard was closed and I’m not a huge fan of Zachary’s) for me to try Sliver.
So yeah– I still like Cheeseboard better but I’ll settle for Sliver. I could go into a lot more detail about the specific differences, but really when it comes down to it, I feel that it evens out when you consider that Sliver is open 7 days a week, has a bar and has such a convenient location. Their pizzas are still good and fresh, and their green cilantro sauce is DELICIOUS. Salads have been hit or miss the two times I’ve gotten them (once the dressing was too light, the other time it was perfect).
Things that will make your experience better: I don’t know if people who aren’t ordering alcohol can order at the bar, but try it. Or just get a drink (if you’re over 21)! Their drinks have been pretty tasty and the past few times I’ve gone, I’ve had no wait (in comparison to the long, long, regular line) and everything was given to me right then and there (pizza included).
Overall, this gets a solid ⁴⁄₅ from me.

One of the soggiest pizzas I’ve ever had. The idea is the same as cheeseboard but the execution is dismal. The cheese wasn’t melted as freshly made pizzas should be and the entire pizza, from top to crust was encased in oil, which made it a supremely stale pizza. It was so oily that when I held it up, the oil dripped down from the sides.
I’d rather get Costco pizza.

The food/​drinks: I believe that Sliver has previous workers from Cheeseboard, thus the similarities in concept/​pizzas. IMO, the pizza at Cheeseboard tastes a bit better, but given that Sliver is much closer to campus, it’s definitely highly frequented by UC Berkeley Students. All the pizzas here are great, and they are all vegan! They change the pizza every day, so make sure to check the options before coming. The last time I came here, I had the Fresh Corn & Zucchini, Red & Yellow Onions, Mozzarella & French Feta Cheese, Cilantro, Limes, Garlic Olive Oil pizza, and it was wonderful. Their potato pizza is phenomenal as well. I really like the lunch special where you get slice+sliver and a salad, with delicious dressing. Make sure to get the green chutney! It is a bit spicy, but is a great addition to the pizza. The drinks here are good (and decently strong depending on the bartender) as well. I recommend the sliver dog (Vodka, Grapefruit, St. Germain, Salted Rim or the Penicillin #2 (Tequila, Agave, Lemon, Housemade Ginger Syrup, Mescal Float)
The atmosphere: They do have places to sit both inside and outside, but since this place is perpetually crowded, you might have to share a table or wait maybe ~10 minutes to find a place to sit. They do have room by the bar to eat as well. The tables are long, so you’ll probably end up sharing, but this place is great to come with a group (in fact; if you’re here with a group, I suggest ordering a large pizza and splitting – you’ll probably get the best band for your buck here). If you can’t find a spot, the nice grassy field by the university entrance always has a place to sit, so you can definitely find a way to enjoy sliver with friends!

Whenever I watch Inside Out and they talk about the broccoli pizza and serving only 1 pizza a day, I think of Sliver.
I’m a huge sliver fan, as a college student, whenever I didn’t know where to eat, sliver was the default location my friends and I would hit up for a study break. Sliver has a different vegetarian pizza of the day that u can view outside or online. I don’t even like vegetables, but sliver is just really tasty, especially their corn days and potato days (my personal favorites)! Their pizzas don’t have any pizza sauce, but they still have plenty of flavor and you can also add their special spicy green sauce that is just delicious & not really spicy at all. Seating can be a bit difficult to find, but normally spots open up quick or u can take your pizza outside and sit on the grass on the edge of campus.

Cheeseboard comes a bit closer to Cal!
Gets very busy, but people are wonderful about sharing tables and space. If going with a group, grab a couple of pies. I love that there’s a bar and tables looking out, makes dinner alone or with company still fun.
Check online for their daily pizzas. And DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE GREEN CILANTRO/​GARLIC SAUCE. I usually skip out on pizza crusts because it’s just extra dough, but here it just means more reason to eat that sauce!
Lastly, one of my favorite things about about Sliver (&Cheeseboard) is that there’s always an extra sliver with your slice. A sweet gesture in my opinion (though it’s all psychological… but still!!)

I love everything about Sliver. Yes, everything from the long anticipation of waiting in line to the eye hawking of table space opening up to waiting for our order to be called out to eating gallons of their green sauce. What I appreciate about this spot is that they strive to use local ingredients and they leave the decision making outside the door. Atypical. One type of pizza. Specials change day to day. Vegetarian only. Boom.
Although Sliver mirrors the original Cheeseboard, it still does pizza right. Every detail is spectacular and I love the flavor profiles of each creation. None of that pepperoni this, half mushrooms there, no onions on a quarter, blah blah blah. The peeps put thought into every pizza and I appreciate every single bite. You can order by the slice, half, or whole. Either way, they always give you extra slices depending on how much you order.
Grab a beer at the bar and you’re good to go.

Sliver is my favorite!
The food is unique and two of it’s kind from what I have ever encountered (the other one being cheeseboard). It is definitely something I always recommended my friends from out of town to try, and ask my friends from in town to go get. My absolute favorite is the corn pizzas (one with chile in lime specifically). They have one pizza flavor a day which you can check online. You can get 1 slice for $ 3, or a whole pie for about $ 22 or something. All their ingredients are vegetarian, no meat involved. I especially like their spicy pesto sauce. Usually end up using it ALL over my pizza, which sometimes can mask the flavor of the pizza itself so be careful. I also end up usually just getting a slice or 2 for a snack/​small meal: more for the taste and enjoying it rather than a full on meal.
They also sell drinks and salads, which I have yet to get so will edit this later!
The place itself is in a prime location for everyone, near bart and campus. It has quite a bit of seating but usually it is ALWAYS crowded. When I do want to eat there though, I usually wait a bit and find some sort of seating because it doesn’t take TOO long for parties to finish their food (depending of time and size of group of course). If you can go during odd hours, I highly suggest it.
Go corn pizza!

I am a fan of Sliver. Been here a few times when I’m in the downtown Berkeley area. Obviously it’s a Pizzeria, you get pizza. Similar concept to Cheese Board Pizza, 1 type of pie per day, vegetarian. The pizza is thin crust style and it decently priced for pizza with no meat on it. I am a meat eater and even I enjoy the creations here.
The last time I was here they had a mushroom pizza which was very tasty. Granted the pizza here is ultra greasy but it tastes awesome. Not for the feint of heart (or arteries). Lots of space inside and outside to sit so it’s a great place to come with people to eat in. They also have a bar with a pretty decently priced beer selection. Pizza and beer. The best combo since PB&J. I was able to get myself two beers for less than $ 10. You can’t really find that in the bay area anymore.
Now you’re probably wondering why it’s called «sliver.» With each whole pie or even a slice, you get an additional smaller slice right on top of your order. So you get a little sliver to nibble on.
So to recap: vegetarian pizza, cheap good beer, lots of space, an extra slice (sliver) on top of your pizza order. Overall a good place to come but not if you want meat.

I tried sliver again, but I’m not sure I will again. They were having a holiday special $ 17.50 for a whole pie, not a bad deal right? I was excited to try the corn and zucchini pizza and share it with my family. So I wait in the long line again, order a pie and a half, half-​baked and the cashier rings it up as $ 30. I ask if it should be $ 27.50 ($ 17.50 for the whole, $ 10 for the half). And he says no. I point out the holiday special sign that says «$ 17.50 for a whole pie» and he says that it doesn’t apply because the pizza is not cooked. Now when they normally have a discount on half-​baked pie (tax free) why wouldn’t the special apply to my order as well? I didn’t make a deal about it, paid the $ 30 and left with a sour taste in my mouth.
By the time I came home, I was so hungry, I couldn’t have cared less what I paid. I opened the boxes and I realized that I never received my sliver of pizza that the restaurant gets its name for. Like what the heck? I cooked the pizza at 400 °F for 8 minutes as per instructions, which I believe underestimate the cook time since by the tie you get home, the pie goes from warm to cold.
The pie was under flavored and under seasoned. The zucchini was shredded, so I completely didn’t taste it and didn’t realize it was even in there. The corn added pops of flavor and so did the feta, butthe rest of the pizza was really monotonous. I was really expecting more. Don’t really think its worth waiting in the slow moving line for.

I’m surprised I haven’t written about Sliver. I come here often, more often than Cheeseboard. I think their pizza is better, their set-​up more inviting, their drink options way better.
Why only 3 stars then? Sliver makes me feel kind of weird. It’s an off-​shoot of Cheeseboard, but it’s not a workers’ collective. It feels kind of like a union-​busting situation, or at least a union-​competing situation. Maybe they’ve got the same good stuff for their employees as Cheeseboard, I should find out, but they definitely don’t have sundays off like Cheeseboard.
Also, Sliver heavily promotes the fact that they are involved with abolition/​ending human slavery stuff. This is despite not sharing how much money they give to abolitionist groups.
Overall, that’s awesome — I wish more businesses had some pet issue they brought awareness to. However, I’ve pointedly asked employees if they know what percentage of profits/​net $ goes to abolitionist groups. None of them can tell me, and sometimes they throw in an extra sliver just to try to shut me up ;-).
Maybe it’s all on the up and up, maybe they shouldn’t give money to any random group. But I think they should explain their position a little better.
I’ll keep coming back. The lunch combo is hard to beat, $ 1 bottle cokes is incredible.

One of the best pizza places in the Bay Area! I’m so glad that this location opened on Center Street. Sliver shares some resemblances to Cheeseboard in that it’s cooperatively-​owned, offers one flavor a day, makes vegetarian pizza, and provides live music.
Advantages over Cheeseboard is that Sliver has its MOUTH-​WATERING green sauce, is a convenient walk to/​from BART and UC Berkeley campus, and has happy hour!

If Sliver and the Cheeseboard were siblings, Sliver is Cheeseboard’s college-​age younger sibling who prefers a more «vintage» style.
Sliver was started by three former employees of the Cheeseboard Collective. Located in the heart of Cal, it definitely attracts the more younger crowd than the Cheeseboard at the Gourmet Ghetto. What are the factors that attract a younger crowd? Closer to Cal, a separate bar section that contains a *much* bigger alcohol selection ($ 20 pitchers, draft beer, more extensive liquor list), longer hours, a TV that can broadcast sports games, and most importantly, a shorter line.
It also tries to capture the spirit of the city of Berkeley’s attempt of increasing the social awareness of various issues. Take an example of their mission statement: «To use the freshest and finest qualities on our pizza as a means of promoting human health and empowering the fight against human trafficking around the world». Part of their proceeds are given to organizations that vow to end human trafficking and once a month an event is held that increases awareness to end human trafficking. Very Berkeley indeed.
The business model is exactly the same as Cheeseboard’s: they serve only one type of vegetarian pizza a day with no sauce, vegan option available. Supposedly they use the «original» recipe that Cheeseboard started over 45 years ago while Cheeseboard made a more recent change to the original recipe. Their name refers to the tiny «slivers» of pizza one gets complimentary for ordering at least one slice ($ 2.75/slice), also like how the pizzas are served at Cheeseboard. There are options available for whole and half pies. Finally, the green sauce loved by so many Cheeseboard visitors is also served here.
Because there’s only one pizza served a day, the pizzas come out hot and ready less than a minute after you place your orders.
The week’s pizzas can be found here (
) or are broadcasted through the various social media outlets. Because the toppings change constantly every day I won’t write a review about every single slice I’ve tried but in general the pizzas come out hot and the ingredients taste fresh. The crust is crunchy and the thickness is in the middle.
The inevitable comparison — Sliver or Cheeseboard? Preference to Cheeseboard for a better combination of toppings in the pizza, fresher toppings and the seats and view are a bit nicer. I saw some booths in poor condition with their stuffing exposed, which is a big irritation of mine and something I don’t have to worry about at Cheeseboard. Another factor is the parking as finding parking in the Gourmet Ghetto is easier than finding parking anywhere around Cal, though being near the Downtown Berkeley BART negates the issue somewhat.
Still, if I was in the Cal area I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity for cheap pizza while supporting an admirable cause.

I ain’t gonna hate, Sliver.
I never imagined moving to California and eating pizza. I promised myself, never again after I left the superbly done pizza’s from the fourth generation Italian Americans in Hoboken, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Brooklyn and so on, but hunger pains and tipsy munchy eats led me here following some in the know Unilocalers. It wasn’t so bad. :) I jest. The pizza was good. I liken it to a pedestrian artisanal pizza. Clearly wonderful and a fan favorite for a college joint: cheap, fast and delicious. However, sadly I’m way past my college years. (womp womp).
There was a Warrior game on and it was crowded although they have ample seating, a bar and outdoor seating. A pie is $ 20. It feeds about 3 – 4 adults. It was ready immediately. No waiting for it to be prepared as it was already since there is one pie of the day and that’s it. It’s always vegetarian. I kind of like the gimmick, but in the end, I don’t know if I’d return so quickly. I enjoy making my own choices.
The pizza itself was thin crust loaded with cheese and toppings from corn and zucchinni to feta and mozz. It had a slightly sweet taste to it, playing tricks on my pizza brain. Sauce? What sauce? I don’t think I quite spied marinara sauce on the pie. If there was, it’s used sparingly.
Overall, Sliver, for an inexpensive, casual and fast meal, you’re a no brainer.

If you’re a big fan on the Cheeseboard, then you will love Sliver Pizzeria! Sliver sells just one kind of vegetarian pizza every day and they use high quality cheese and toppings, just like the Cheeseboard. You can check their website to find out what toppings they have that day on their pizza. The owners of Sliver used to work for the Cheeseboard and have taken what they’ve learned there and applied it to their own pizzeria. The result – good pizza!
Sliver is very close to the Cal campus, so this is definitely a big college hangout. When we got there around 8 pm on a Wednesday, the place was packed with college students having pizza and beer as they watch the Warriors beat the Rockets on the big flat screen tvs. It was pretty loud! We managed to get a large corner booth for our group of seven. East Bay’s lovely CM bought a couple of pizzas for the group and Isabella got us a pitcher of IPA to wash that down, and we continued our partying!
That evening, the pizza’s main toppings were fresh corn, zucchini, feta, mozzarella and other toppings! Yum! With a not so thin sourdough crust, it was easy to eat the pizza. No need to use a fork and knife. Spread some of that green sauce on top and you will add a kick to your slice of pizza. Our group enjoyed the pizza and beer, and we got to join in the Dub Nation fever that has entranced the crowd.
Thanks Jon G. for suggesting this place and for the outrageously funny story you shared with us! Thanks Stephanie Y. for the pizza and Isabella B. for the pitcher of beer. And to everyone else who were there (Michael S., Porsche C. and Eugene L.), thanks for the fun times as well!
Michael S. and I will definitely be back here! The pizza is good and inexpensive, and the beer selection is great.

I was rolling with Ms Isabellas UYE Posse and our Local Berkeley Expert Jon G suggested getting a Bite to eat at Sliver Pizzeria .
So we Street Hiked to Sliver from Comal and arrived in a Very Short time .
Their a Specialty Pizza Joint so they only Serve one type of Pizza a Day.
Their Pizza of the Day was — Fresh Corn, Zucchini, Onions, Greek Feta, Mozzarella Cheese, Cilantro Garlic, Olive Oil and Limes .
A Pizza a Vegetarian would Kill for .
Our Lovely CM Yo Steph Y Treated the Crew to a Few Pizzas .
Thanks Stephanie !!!
Silver actuall starts Cooking the Pizzas when you order them .
So you receive them in a very short time Warp Speed .
This was a Very Solid Pizza .
Packed Full Of Flavor !!!
The Pesto Sauce on the Side was a Good Addititve to the Pizza and added to the Pizzas Flavor .
Sliver was a Packed House .
They have Several LCD TVs and The Warriors Game was on .
It was a Very Festive Atmosphere !!!
I would Definitely Return .
Very Welcoming atmosphere.
I had to Roll when my ankle bracelet went off. Lmao

LISTEN UP… LISTEN UP! This place is DA BOMB!
Whoever knew that pizza could taste so damn good? Let me start by saying that I am NOT a pizza person but after having a party in my mouth from eating Sliver pizzeria I think I changed my mind!
A group of friends and I came as we had a taste for some pizza. Walking in, we noticed the place was PACKED! Line wasn’t long at all so we went to order.
DID YOU KNOW?
~They only make one specialty pizza a day. What does that mean? It means that you get what you get and you don’t make a fit… but don’t worry no matter what pizza they make I promise you that it will be delicious to you and your belly!
~There is a bar in the restaurant as well! They serve cocktails and beer at a reasonable price.
~They have seating inside and outside. So when it’s a beautiful day, take advantage of the beautiful weather while you enjoy your pizza!
REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD COME:
~They cater to all type of people. Yes, vegetarians I’m talking to you! If you are worried that the pizza won’t be what you expect. I can tell you that you are wrong. There pizza is vegetarian friendly!
~The pizza is affordable and huge for $ 21 plus Tax you can feed at least 4 people and be happy. Let me just admit that the one «sliver» pizza at the top really gives you the bang for your buck!
REASONS WHY I WILL COME BACK:
~The pizza was the BEST I’ve tasted in a while and till today I am still dreaming about the taste in my mouth.
~I didn’t try the green sauce but I hear it’s great and really gives the pizza a touch to it with the spice that’s in it! So I am making sure to get my butt back as soon as I can to get a taste of another good specialty pizza and add that sauce on there!
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW:
~The pizza comes out really quick! The cooks are making the pizza while your ordering. So psstt… get a seat first before you order and don’t be like my group and I and be holding a pizza while looking for a seat! HA.
There are TV’s here so if you are looking to enjoy a good game and need a place to relax, eat and have a couple drinks… this is the place to be homie!